Apparatus for feeding elongated stock to and from fabricating units



Oct. 10, 1950 2,525,305

E. LOMBARD APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ELONGATED STOCK TO AND FROM FABRICATING UNITS Oct. l0, 1950 E. LoMBARD APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ELONGATED sTocx To AND FROM FABRICATING UNITS 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 4, 1949 EUGENE Lome/5F10.

A r rok/v5 V5.

Oct. 10, 1950 E. LOMBARD APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ELONGATED sTocx To AND FROM FABRICATING UNITS Filed Aug. 4, 1949 INVENTOR.

11 Sheets-Sheet 3 E. LOMBARD APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ELONGATED STOCK T0 AND Oct. 10, 1950 FROM FABRICATING UNITS 'f 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 4, 1949 INVENTOR.

A T 0 R'NY.

v3 SJ Ev Oct. 10, 1950 a LoMBARD APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ELDNGATED STOCK T0 AND FROM FABRICATING UNITS v 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 4, 1949 HNWMMN 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 E. LOMBARD APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ELONGATED STOCK T0 AND FROM FABRICATING UNITS Filed Aug. 4, 1949 vou. 1o, 195o Y JNVENTOR.

EUGENE LoMsARD.

ATTORNEYS.

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Oct. 10, 1950 E. LOMBARD APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ELONGATED sTocx To AND mou FABRICATING UNITS Filed Aug. 4, 1949 1l Sheets-Sheet 7 WCM@ Filed Aug E. LOMBARD APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ELONGATED STOCK TO AND FROM FABRICATING UNITS 4, 1949 l1 Sheets-Sheet 8 v/ f @2y-19- 54- /I f l/f'v 45 IN VEN TOR.

EUGENE LOMBARD.

Lex/Wam@ ATTORNEYS.

11 Sheet's-Sheet 9 Illl Il lglllll I'IIIMHH'I TORNEI/5.

EEDING ELONGATED STOCK TO A FROM F'ABRICATING UNITS llll'llIllll lllllllllllllllfl Oct. 10, 195() E. LOMBARD APPARATUS FoR F Filed Aug. 4, 1949 'INVENTOR BY vEAJIcaA-.NE LOMBARD.

Oct. l0, 1950 Filed Aug. 4, 1949 E. LOMBARD 2,525,305

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ELONGATED STOCK T0 AND FROM FABRICATING UNITS l1 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTOR.

un o, N

ATTORNEYS.

EUGENE LOMBARD.

Oct. 10, 1950 E LOMBARD 2,525,305

. APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ELONGATED STOCK T0 AND l FROM-FABRICATING UNITS Filed Aug. 4, 1949 ll Sheets-,Sheet 11 III- Mf//l f /1111' INVENTOR. EUGENE LQMBARD.

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ATTOKNEVS.

Patelited Oct. 10, 1950 APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ELONGATED STOCK TO AND FROM UNITS FABRICATING Eugene Lombard, Clinton, Pa., assignor to Crucible Steel Company of America, New York N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 4, 1949, Serial N0. 108,616

.14 claims. 1

, another of its aspects to the combination of at leastA two fabricating units for performing successivefabricating operations on lengths of elongated stock as aforesaid, together with automatic feeders in accordance with the first aspect of the invention for feeding said stock lengths into said fabricating units respectively, and a transfer ap paratus in accordance with the second'aspect of the invention for transferring stock lengths delivered from the first fabricating unit onto the automatic feeder supplying the second fabricating unit.

The apparatus in accordance with the invention is particularly applicable to the automatic feeding ofV straightened and round metal bar stock into centerless grinders, processing machines that require round, machine straightened elongated stock, and the like, and to the automatic delivery and transfer therefrom of such bar stock onto an automatic feeder unit in accordance with the invention for feeding the stock into a vsecond centerless grinder, or the like as aforesaid, whereby but one attendant is required for supervising the operations of the entire apparatus. l

This latter aspect of the. invention may be extended to any number `of fabricating units arranged in tandem for performing a like number of successive fabricating operations upon lengths of elongated stock, by providing each fabricating unit on its entrance side with an automatic feeder unit in accordance with the invention, and providing each such fabricating unit, except the last of the tandem series, with an automatic transfer unit in accordance with the invention for` transferring the stock lengths delivered from one fabricating unit in the tandem series onto the automatic feeder unit of the next fabricating unit in the tandem series.

In consequence of this arrangement, only one or a relatively few attendants may effectively supervise the successive fabricating operations of many fabricating units, in marked contrast to the practices heretofore in vogue according to which an attendant has been required for each fabrieating unit, manually to feed the stock lengths thereinto, while additional attendants have been required for manually transferring the stock lengths delivered from one fabricating unit to the attendant manually feeding stock lengths into the second fabricating unit. The invention thus provides labor saving devices of first magnitude, by greatly reducing the man power required, and by relieving those retained of tedious, repetitive manual operations, and elevating their duties to those of a supervisory nature comprising' the checking of performances of the various machines or units in automatically effecting their prearranged sequence of operations, and in checking the results of these operations on the fabricated stock from time to time, the latter as to tolerance limits, qualityetc.

The automatic feeder and transfer mechanisms in accordance with the invention are not restricted as to the lengths of elongated stock that they are capable of handling, and in fact will handle, without necessity for adjustments on the feeder mechanism, successive stock sections of the same cross-sectional area, which vary in length from section to section, and which may range in length anywhere from a few feet up to forty feet or more, for any given mechanisms in accordance with the invention designed for most commercial operations. In this connection, howy, ever, it is pointed out that smaller units in aci cordance with theinvention may be constructed -to handle smaller diameter'and shorter stock lengths, and likewise that larger units may be constructed to handle larger diameter and longer stock lengths. The only adjustment required in the apparatus of the invention for handling different types. of stock, is that resulting from changes in the sectional ydimensions of the stock, and to compensate for variations of this character, a simple adjustment of the automatic feeder mechanism is required.

Heretofore no apparatus has been devised, insofar as I am aware for automatically feeding bar stock in long lengths, of the order of two to forty feet or more into centerless grinders, or other processing machines that require round, machine straightened elongated s tock, or the like, with the exception of the devices disclosed in copending applications of C. J. Murray and W. K. Lowe Serial Nos. 769,114 which matured as Patent No.

2,503,761 on Aprn 11, o, and 721,930 which matures as Patent No. 2,503,760 on YAprn 11, 195o, owned by the assignee of the instant application. In the automatic feeder mechanisms of said Murray-Lowe applications, the bar stock is fed by gravity down an inclined table, and thence into a grooved guide aligned with the work path of the fabricating unit, from whence the stock lengths are fed successively into the fabricating unit by operation thereon of a reciprocating plunger. This plunger type automatic feed requires adjustment of the plunger stroke for each different length of bar stock to be fed, and for this same reason is not adapted to the automatic feeding of bar stock in random lengths, i. e., which vary in length from bar to bar.

'Ihe automatic feeder apparatus of the present invention differs fundamentally from that of said Murray-Lowe applications in that it is of a continuous feedconstruction, employing no reciprocatory plunger for feeding the stock, but to the contrary employs a series of continuously driven feed rolls onto which the stock lengths are deliveredsuccessively from a supply magazine, by means of a reciprocatory transfer or ejector mechanism, which automatically transfers successive stock lengths from the supply magazine onto the feed rolls.

The automatic feeder apparatus in accordance with the invention comprises, more specifically, an aligned series of driven feed rolls for feeding and guiding -the stock lengths successively and longitudinally into the fabricating unit. a magazine sloping downwardly toward the feed rolls for containing a supply of the stock lengths, and for feeding the same under gravity toward the feed rolls, an ejector mechanism reciprocable to transfer the stock lengths successively from the magazine onto the feed rolls. In addition the apparatus includes a driven shaft eccentrically linked to the ejector mechanism, for reciprocating the same, once for each revolutionv of the shaft, a single revolution type of clutch, actuatable to couple the driving shaft to a continuously rotating, driving sheave. The apparatus further includes a switch having a Weighted, vertically displaceable switch arm adapted to ride upon the upper surface of each stock length during its propulsion along the feed rolls, and to drop down under gravity to actuate the switch upon transit of a stock length beyond the. switch arm. Actuation of this switch in turn energizes a solenoid, which in turn actuates the clutch aforesaid to drivingly couple the driven shaft to the driving sheave for a single revolution thereof, each time the clutch\is thus energized. This clutch accordingly reciprocates the ejector mechanism for one complete forward and backward stroke thereof, to deliver the next stock length onto the feed rolls. Mounted on the`driven shaft is a cam containing a single recess in which normally rests a switch arm of a second switch, so that this second switch is not actuated while the driven shaft is at rest, but is actuated as soon as the shaft starts to rotate to disengage this second switch arm from the cam recess, this switch thus remaining actuated until the driven shaft has completed a revolution and returned the second switch-arm into the cam recess. .'Actuation of the second switch in the manner described in turn energizes a solenoid which elevates the weighted switch arm above the level of the next succeeding stock length delivered onto the feed rolls and is being propelled into the fabricating mechanism, whereby, upon release of the solenoid controlling the weighted switch arm, the latter 4 drops down and rides upon the upper surface of the next succeeding stock length, This status continues until said next succeeding stock length has been propelled into the fabricating unit past v the weighted switch arm, whereupon the latter again drops down under gravity to actuate the switch first mentioned, and thus again reenergize the clutch for causing the driven shaft to be rotated again for a complete revolution to deliver the next bar length onto the feed rolls in the manner above described. In this way the stock lengths are automatically fed into the fabricating unit as rapidly as said unit can handle the stock, inasmuch as each stock length in passing into the fabricating unit actuates the weighted switch arm as soon as the fabricating unit is ready to handle the next succeeding stock length. The feeder apparatus thus performs automatically, with a minimum loss vof time and delay, in

feeding successive lengths of stock into the fabricating unit with ends'abutting.

The transfer apparatus in accordance with the invention for receiving elongated stock lengths delivered thereto from a fabricating unit, and for automatically transferring the same to a feeder unit of a next succeeding fabricating unit, comprises in its essentials: A runout trough for receiving said stock lengths, a driven shaft paralleling said trough, elevating means including sprockets secured to said shaft and chains extending therefrom to other sprockets mounted above said trough, stock engaging fingers spaced along and secured to said chains, and finger members eccentrically linked to .said shaft and having slotted lower portions pin-connected to xed supports, and having substantially horizontally extending upper arms adapted to en' gage and lift the stock lengths from said runout trough upon rotation of said shaft, and to deliver the same onto a skid plate which delivers by gravity to the finger members secured to the chains, whereby the chains elevate the stock lengths and deliver them onto the feeder unit of the next succeeding fabricating unit. For actuating the driven shaft in question, at the appropriate intervals for elevating each stock length delivered onto the runout trough, a single revolution type of clutch is provided whichreleasably couples the driven shaft to a continuously rotating driving sheave. Asuitable clutch of this type is the Hilliard single revolution clutch, type 6, specifically the No. 4 modification employing a simple trip lever, as described for example, in Bulletin No. 239 of the Hilliard Corporation, Elmira, New York. This clutch is normally released, but is automatically operated to rotate the driven shaft one revolution, each time a stock length is delivered onto the runout trough. This automatic operation is affected by means of atrigger mechanisrn resiliently mounted at the far end of the runout trough from that of the fabricating unit, which trigger mechanism is actuated by abutment of' each stock length thereagainst, asthestock length reaches the end of the runout trough. This trigger mechanism in turn actuates a switch which energizes a solenoid, in turn to actuate the trip lever of the clutch mechanism, thus tofrotate the driven shaft. As soon as the stock length in question is elevated from the runout trough in the manner aforesaid by rotation of the driven shaft, the trigger mechanism is restored, thus opening the switch and deenergizing the solenoid, whereby the trip lever engages the clutch stop upon completion of one revolution, thereby to release the clutch from the driven shaft.

Aside from the basic features of the invention above referred tothe components of the apparatus involve a number of additional novel features of construction and operation which will become apparent as the description proceeds.

- Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be had, for a more detailed descriptionthereof, to the accompanying drawing wherein: l

Figure 1 is a top plan view of apparatusl in accordance with the invention, comprising .the feeder mechanism for feeding hot rolled, machine straightened bar stock into a roughing grinder and thence successively onto run-out and transfer mechanisms for transferring thev rough ground stock to a finishing grinder, and' thence onto a run-out cradle for the finished stock.

Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation of the Fig. 1 assembly as viewed from the right in Fig. 1. Fig. 2a is an enlarged end elevation of 'a single revolution type of clutch and actuating solenoid mechanism controlling transfer of the bar stock from the run-out to the transfer mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the Fig. 1 assembly, illustrating the essential operating details and mechanisms of the feeder, runout and transfer units. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail in sectional elevation, taken at 4--4 of Fig. 3, of a, cam-actuated microswitch employed in the feeder mechanism. Fig. 5 is V,an end elevation, and Fig. 6 an axial section, taken at 6--6 of Fig. 5, of one of the single revolution, Hilliard clutch mechanisms employed in the Figs. 1 to 3 assembly. Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the cam-actuated feeder mechanism, as taken at 1-1 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the assembly shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 8a is an enlarged sectional detail, taken at ila- 8a of Fig. 8, illustrating the bar release finger of the cam-actuated feeder mechanism, in the advanced position. Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of the Figs. 7 and 8 assembly, as taken at 9 9 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a view in perspective of the cam-actuated feeder mechanism shown in the Figs. 7 and 8 assemblies. Figs. 11 and 12 are perspective views of components'of the Fig. 10 assembly. Fig. 13 is a detail in axial, sectional elevation of the eccentric mechanism of the Fig. 8 assembly, as taken on line I3-l3' of Fig. 8.

Fig. 14 is a top plan View of the bar stock feeder table with the canted pairs of driven, bar stock feeder rolls, removed for exposing to view the lateral table shifting and elevating mechanisms.l Fig. 15 is a sectional elevation as taken at I5-I5 of Fig. 14, for further illustrating the details of the table shifting and elevating mechanisms.`

Fig. 16 is a sectional elevation, as taken at IG-IB of Fig. 14, for illustrating further details of the table elevating mechanism.

Figs. 17 to 20 inc., illustrate one set of the canted pairs of driven bar stock feed rolls together with the drive` mechanisms therefor, for feeding the bar stock longitudinally, with rotary motion, into the grinder, these feeder rolls being mounted on the feeder table illustrated in Fig. 14. In these views Fig. 17 is an end elevation of the feed roll pair as taken at right angles to the axes this view also illustrating the trip wheel actuated microswitch for actuating one of the clutch mechanisms of the feeder as described hereinafter. Fig. 20 is a side elevation of the Fig.' 19 assembly. I'

Fig. 21 is an enlarged view in end elevation of the run-out; table and a portion of the transfer mechanismy assembly illustrated in Fig. 2. Fig.

f vatingmechanism therefor taken as 23-23 of Fig. 1, this view also illustrating the trip mechalnism for operating the microswitch at the end :of .the run-out table.

Fig. 24 is a view in side elevation of .the trip mechanism and microswitch of Fig. 23. Fig. 25 is a fragmentary detail in sectional elevation as taken at 25-25 of Fig. 23. Fig. 26 isa plan view -of the drive pinions for the elevating mechanism of Fig. 23, taken along the `line 26-26 of Fig. 23.

Referring to 'Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 7, the general layout and overall operation of apparatus in accordance' with the invention, as employed by way vof illustrative example only, in conjunction with centerless grinders, is as follows. In Figs. 1 and 3, there is shown a feeder mechanism l which automatically feeds' hot-rolled and machinethereof. `Fig. 18 is a front elevation of the feed roll pair including the drive. Fig. 18a is a cross sectional View taken at I8a`|8a of Fig. 18, illustrating further details of the feed roll drive. Fig. 18h is a perspective detail View of a cylindrical bearing and bearing roll supporting member employed in thc Figs. 17 to 18a assembly. Fig. 19 is a top plan view of one of the feed roll pairs,

straightened bars 2 into land through a roughng centerless grinder 3,y and thence onto a run-out 4, from whence the bars are picked up by a transfer mechanism 5 and delivered onto a feeder mechanism 6 `identical with I. Feeder 6 feeds the bars into and through a finishing grinder 1, from whence they are fed onto a, run-out and cradle `8, wherein they arel accumulated.

v More specifically. and referring now to Figs. l, 2. 3 and 7, the hot-rolled and machine-straightened bars 2 are loaded in substantially parallel relation as shown, onto downwardly inclined, spaced skid rails such as Il, of a feeder magazine shown generally at I2, so constructed, as explained below,` as to provide in conjunction with skid rails II, slotted passageways such as I3, Fig. 7, for feeding the bars individually and successively, as at I 4, in the direction of arrow I5, downwardly under gravity onto cam-actuated ejector mechanisms shown -generally at I5. The ejector mechanisms I6, in turn, deliver the bars successively onto canted pairs of driven feed rolls I1. which propel the bars in the direction of arrow I 8, into and through the roughing grinder 3. To this end the rolls Il of each pair are so mounted in relation to each other as to provide a V groove I9, Fig. 7, therebetween, into which groove the bars are delivered las at 20, the rolls being driven in the directions of the larrows thereon, Fig. 7. ln addition, the roll pairs Il are adjustably mounted as explained below, in canted relation* to the direction of the bars such as 20 delivered thereon, as shown in Fig. 1, whereby,

'as the rolls` rotate, they automatically feed the 7 are picked up by the transfer mechanism 5, which is of sprocket .and chain construction, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, 'and which progressively elevates the bars as at'20f, and delivers them,

as at e, onto downwardly sloping, spaced transfer skid rails such as 2i, from whence the bars roll by gravity onto the skid rails 22 of the feeder mechanism 6, as at 23, Fig. 2. From the feeder mechanism 3 the bars are fed, in a manner identical with that described in connection with Y 1, the gauging point being indicated at 24a and 24h. The operator, by manipulating pilot wheels such as 25, available to his reach as shown, can adjust the centerless grinders 3 and 1, to take care of wear on the grinder wheels.

The construction and operation of the feed roll pairs I1 of Figs. 1-3 inc., will now be described more in detail with reference to Figs. 1'1-20 inc.

Referring to Figs. 17 to 20 inc., each feed roll pair I1, comprises feed rolls 2'8, 29, keyed respectively to shafts 3D, 3l, these shafts in turn being journaled' to roll supporting or mounting plates 32, 33, through bearings, as at 34, 35, preferably roller or ball bearings. The mounting plates 32, 33 are shown in section in Fig. 18a, referring to which, each mounting plate is provided on its inner face with a circular slot, as at 36a, 36h, for purposes of assembling the two mounting plates 32, 33 in rotatably adjustable relation onto the opposite ends respectively of a pipe-like supporting member 31', the construction of which is most clearly illustrated in--the perspective view, Fig. 18h. Referringto Fig. 18h, the supporting member 31 comprisejsl'apip'e section 38, which is` cut away longitudinally along its base, tov pro-- tively, in conformingv apertures of av pair of sup-1 .porting plates 48, 4I, and welded to these'plates to provide .theassembly of Fig. 18h. 'Ih'e supi' threaded onto the ends of bolts 42. The purpose A of the arcuate slots 44 in the mounting plates 32, 33, is to permit yof 'angular adjustments be.- tween the mounting plates 32, 33, thereby to adjust the spacing between the feed rolls 28, 29 in accordance with the diameter and speed of the barstocktobe fed. 1

Still referring to Fig. 18a, the supporting member 31, carrying the assembly described thus far, is in turn mounted on a circular supporting plate 45. To this end the mounting plate is providedwith parallel, rectangular grooves, as at 46, see Fig. 14, for reception of the horizontal base portions of the supporting plates 4IJ, 4I. The supporting plates 40, 4I are thus assembled in the grooves 46 of the mounting plate 45, are welded thereto to provide an integral assembly. As shown in Figs. 14, 16 and 18a, the mounting plate 45 is provided with a circular opening 41, concentric therewith, and thesupportingmember 31 is somounted on the mounting plate 45 that the center of the circular opening 41 is in vertical alignment with the center of the slotted sector 39 of the pipe section 38, and is also in vertical alignment with the midpoint axially of the pipe section 38, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 18a.

As shown in Figs. 16, 18 and 18a, the mounting plate 45 isprovided on its underside with a diametrically extending groove 48, into which ts the upper edge of a U-shaped supporting member 49, which is welded in position in groove 48. The supporting member 49 in turn mounts a motor and reduction gear assembly, 58, 5I, which drives the rolls 28, 29 in the manner now to be explained. The drive assembly and operation is illustrated in Figs. 1'7, 18 and 18a. As shown therein, the motor and gear assembly 50, 5I, is mounted on plate 49`by means of bolts, as at 52, passing through slotted openings, as at 53, in Fig. 18, provided in the supporting plate 49'. The motor 50 drives a, shaft 54 through the worm and gear assembly 5I; Shaft 54 has keyed thereto a sheave aboutwhich passes a belt .56, which also passes-about a sheave 51, the latter being keyed to a shaft 58 journaledat its opposite ends to the supporting plates 32, 33 by means of roller porting' plates 40,'4I are of roughly the inverted U-,shaped configuration shown, theV upper portions` being of arcuate lcontour in conformity with the contour. of the pipe section, and the bases thereof being rectilinear in the horizontal direction, as'i'shown. Reverting to Fig. 18a, the

mounting plates 32, 33 |are rotatably assembled' A onto the opposite ends respectivelyof thepipe -'section 38, with the"opposite"e'n'ds ofthe pipe sectionilt into the circular grooves 36a, 36b .0f the mounting plates.: Sin-'the resplting assembly `.thefsupporting plates-48', 4I oiA meinberf31jprovide upstanding'flanged portions; against which fthemounting' plates 32, 33` respectively abut, as shown in Fig. 1,8 q.,-The components comprising the supporting member 31 and the mounting :site ends, shaft 58 has keyed thereto chain "sprockets 60, 6|about-which pass chains, as at 62, '63, 'the' opposite ends of which pass about other sprockets 64, 65, the latter being keyed respectively to shafts 30, 3I. By reason ofy the driving assembly thus described, the motor 50 drives the feed rolls 28, 29 concurrently and at L the same speed of rotation and in the same di' rection of rotation as indicated by the arrows 66 thereon. Y

Referring to Fig. 1,"each o f the roll pairsv I1 is independently motor driven in the manner above 'described with reference to Figs. 17 to 20 inc., the

rolls of each pair beingmounted in alignment in the direction in which the bars are to be fed. In addition, each of the roll pairs is mounted with the roll axes in adjustably inclined relation or canted with respect to the direction in which the bar stock is to be fed, as illustrated in Fig. 1, for

propelling the bar stock into the grinders at a speed determined by the extent of angular inclination of the roll axes relative to the direction of travel of the bar stock, and by the rotative speeds at which the rolls are driven. Themounting of the roll pair assemblies to the above ends is as follows:

Referring to Figs. 1 and 14 to 20 inc., the mounting pla-te 45 of each roll pair assembly, is of circular configuration and is-provided about its outer periphery'with ari undercut portion providing, as shown in Fig.l 18a, a peripheral flange 61 abutting a circular shoulder 68 on the underside. This shoulder fits into a conforming circular opening of a stationary supporting plate 1|, while the outer flanged portion 69 of the mounting plate 45 rests on a bearing ring 12, of Micarta or other suitable organic bearing material, which bearing ring in turn rests upon the supporting plate 1|. All of the supporting plates 1| are bolted to parallel channel members 13'of a roll feed table shown generally at 14 and described hereinafter. The supporting plates are bolted as at 14a, to the channel members 13. In this way the entire feed roll and motor drive assemblies of Figs. 17 to 20 incl. are so mounted in alignment along the feed table 14, as to be rotatable about their vertical axes with reference to their respective supporting plates 1|, thereby to permit of canting the roll axes with respect to the direction of bar stock propulsion, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1. l

Referring to Figs. 14 and 17 to 20 inc., means are provided for concurrently rotating the successive mounting plates 45, mounting the successive roll pairs l1, for adjusting theroll pairs to the same angular inclinations relative to the direction of feed of ther bar stock. This adjusting means comprises, for each mounting plate 45, a triangular plate 16, rigidly secured to the associated mounting plate 45 by a pair of bolts as at 11, passing through apertures provided at oppo- Isite vertices of the triangular plates 16. The remaining, projecting vertices 18 of the triangular plates 16 are interconnected by successive bars or link members 19, which are pin-connected to the projecting vertices of the triangular plates, as at 80. Referring to Fig. 14, at one end of the thus interconnected triangular plate and link assemblies 16, 19, 80, the final link 8| terminates in an upstanding lug 82, through a tap hole in which a threaded bolt 83 extends, this bolt being held rotatably against lateral displacement by means of a nut 84. The other end of the threaded bolt 83 is in threaded engagement with a block member 85 flxedly secured to the end plates 1|. This end of the bolt is provided with a polygonal bolt head 86, for adjusting the bolt in either direction relative to the block member 85, thereby to correspondingly displace the entire link assembly 8|, 19, 80, 16, etc., in one direction or in the opposite direction, for

concurrently adjusting the angular inclinations of all of the roll pairs I1, in accordance with the rotative adjustments of the mounting plates 45 through the intermediary of the triangular plates 16, rigidly secured to the mounting plates 45 and pin-connected to the links 19 as explained.

vThe assembly and adjustment of the roll feed table will now be described. Referring to Figs. 14, and 16, the channel members 13, supporting the feed roll assemblies, extend the length of the roll feed table 14. At the opposite ends of this table the channel members are supported on cross bars 81, Fig. 15. Each of these cross bars 81 is mounted upon a pair of screw supports, as at 88, 89, which in turn are threaded through a pair of hub members, as at 90, 9|, and these in turn are journaled to an angle member 92 through interposed brass bushings, such as 93, and bearing washers, such as 94, the latter of Micarta or the like. The angle members 92 in turn are supported on upstanding anglemembers, such as 93, of the feeder supporting framework, showngenerally at 93a, Fig. 2.

Each hub member 90, 9| has secured thereto a gear, such as 94, 95, which gears mesh with a pinion 98, which in turn is keyed to a shaft 91, journaled through the upper flange of the angle member 92, shaft 91 having also keyed to its upper end a handwlieel 98, whereby adjustment of the handwheel 98 lowers and elevates the cross bars 81, in turn, to correspondingly raise or lower the feed roll table 14.

It is necessary to provide for transverse adjustment of the entire feed roll table 14, in order to compensate for grindstone wear and variation in the size of rods to be fed. This is accomplished as follows: Referring more particularly to Figs. lll-'16 inc., each cross bal 81 has bolted to its upper surface a tapped sleeve member 99, bolted to plate 81 as at |00. Threaded through the sleeve member 991s a screw shaft |0|, journaled at its opposite ends to the channel members 13 by means including brass bushings, Micarta washers, and terminal collars |02, |03, |04. The sleeve and screw shaft assembly is mounted between channel members |05 welded to channel member 13.

Referring to Fig. 14, the screw shalt lul at one end of the table is provided at its opposite ends with a pair oi sprockets |06, |01, keyed thereto. A chain |08 passes from one sprocket |06 to a sprocket |09 keyed to a shaft l|0, to which is secured a hanclwheel About the remaining sprocket |01, chain ||2 extends to a sprocket |l3, keyed to the screw shalt l0|a at the lar end ot' the table. The assembly and operation of screw shalt |0|a is identical with that of screw shaft IUI, per Fig. 15. l'hus, manipulation of the handwheel I l l concurrently rotates the screw shafts IDI, and to the same extent, thereby to adjust the entire feed roll table I4 and roll stands |1 mounted thereon, in either of the transverse directions illustrated by`1arrow||5 in Fig. 15, by sliding displaceillent oi'theE channel `member 1| along the cross bars 81. l

Accordingly the feed tablefmay be adjusted in elevation by handwheel 98:; and may be adjusted transversely by manipulation of handwheel The cam-actuated ejector-mechanisms |b` which discharge the bar stock from the magazine I2, Fig. 7, onto the driven feed roll pairs l1, will now be described with reference to Figs. '1 to 13 inc. Referring to these figures, the ejector machanism designated generally at |50, comprises an assembly displaceable as a unit and lconsisting of a base member |55, a height adjusting member |56, and a finger member |51. The base member |55 is of generally rectangular and slab-like configuration, its upper face being longitudinally grooved, as at |58, for slidable reception of the height-adjusting member |56, which sits in the groove in themanner shown, and is longitudinally adjustable therein by means of a screw bolt |59, which extends through a U slot of a projecting lug |6I, provided on member |55, the screw bolt |59 .threading through a tapped lug |62 formed on the height-adjusting member |56, and extending at right angles thereto as shown.

In addition, the body member |55 is provided with a slot |63, paralleling the groove |58, slot |63 being adapted for reception of the f'lnger member |51, which is pin-connected and thus pivotally secured to the body lmember |55 by means of a pin |65. This pin |65 extends through lateral slots |68, |68, for mounting member |55 in locking and sliding engagement on a support- |10, |1|, mounted upon a channel member .|12

of the feeder mechanism supporting framework,

This supporting structure com-v being bolted thereto as at |13. Fig. 9 The bars |10, |1| are facedA with bearing members |16, |11, of brass, Micarta or the like, secured thereto by screws, as at |18. It will be observed, Figs. 9 and 10, that these two bearing members |16, |11 extend inwardly in opposite directions from their respective supporting bars |10, |1| lockingly engaging the keyway slots |68, |69 of the ejector base member |55. Inthis way the ejector base member |55 is slidably supported on the bearing members |16, |11 in locking engagement therewith. The entire ejector assembly, comprising the base member |55, height-adjusting member |56 and ejector finger |51, is thus displaceable as a unit along the bearing members |16, |11 by means of a connecting link |18, one end of which is pin-connected to the base member |55, as at |18, and the opposite vend of which is integral with "an eccentric sleeve member |80, within which is rotatable an eccentric |8|, keyed to a shaft |82.

Referring to Figs. '1, 8a and 10, it will be noted that the finger member |51 is substantially V- shaped, one leg of the V terminating in a trigger or finger portion |83, with the opposite leg |84 extending into a slot |85 of a trigger adjustment plate |86. As shown in Fig. 1l, this trigger adjusting plate |86 is of substantially rectangular configuration, having'.y formed therein the substantially rectangularslot |85 referred to. As shown in Figs. 7, 8a and 9, this plate |86 is slidably mounted on the `channel member |12, between the upstanding supports |10, |1|, and beneath the base portionv |61 of the ejector base member |55. At its front end, as viewed in Fig. 7, the trigger adjustingplate |86 has welded thereto a downwardly projecting lug |81, having a U slot formed therein, for reception of an adjusting screw bolt |88, which threads into a nut |89, welded onto the ange of the channel member |12. This permits of longitudinal adjustment of plate |86 for purposes explained below.

Referring to Figs. '1 and l0, the trigger member |51 is provided adjacent its pivotal mounting |66, with an upstandng lug |80 which is tapped for reception of a pin |9 I. Secured to the upper surface of the trigger base member |55 is a substantially U-shaped trigger spring plate |90a, which is mounted upon and secured to the base member |55 by means of bolts, as at |8|a. This spring plate is additionally anchored on the base member |55 by means of a downwardly projecting lug |82, which enters a corresponding slot in the body member, as clearly illustrated in Fig. '7. The spring plate |80a is provided at its opposite ends, as shown in side view, with upstanding lugs |83, |84. "The lug |84 away from the trigger member |51, has welded thereto an upstanding pin |85, to the upper end of which is secured one end of a tension spring |96, the opposite end of which is secured to the upper'end of the trigger pin |9|. In addition an adjusting bolt |81 is threaded through the upstanding lugs |84 of the spring plate |80, and extends through an aperture of lug |83. in -such manner that the far end |88 of the bolt is normally adjacent the upstanding lug |8| of the trigger member |51.

Referring to Figs. 7, 8 and 10, the skid plate is of somewhat hook-shapedv configuration comprising an upper portion ||a overlapping a base portion Ib, to provide therebetween a slotted opening |88, along which are positioned a pair of adjusting plates 200. 20|. 'Ihese adjusting plates are provided with elongated apertures, as at 202, 203, through which bolts 204 extend, being tapped to the skid plate The elongated-openings 202 of the adjusting plate 200 extend vertically for'adjusting plate 200 in the vertical direction for varying the height of the slotted opening I8, Fig. 7, in conformity with the diameter of the bar stock, to be fed in a single layer, as at I4, from the supply of bars`2 carried by the lower portion IIb of the skid plate and held back by the upper portion Ila thereof., The adjusting slots 203 of the adjusting plate 20| extend horizontally for similarly adjusting portion 206 of the slotted opening in conformity with the diameter of the bar stock being fed.

With the foregoing description in mind, the operation of the ejector mechanism to feedthe bar stock from the supply 2 thereof onto the feed rolls l1, Fig. 7, is best explained by first describing the ejector mechanism adjustment required to initiate such operation.

Still referring to Fig. 7, and to Fig. 8a, shaft |82 is rotated as explained below, until the ejector mechanism is displaced to its most retracted position to the right in Fig. '1 by the eccentric and link mechanisms |18|8|. A bar 208 is now placed in the position shown against the shoulder 2|0 of the ejector base member |55, this shoulder being set back somewhat, as shown, from the end of the base member, which is downwardly inclined from the shoulder to the extremity of the body member, as at 2|0a. The bar 208 is thus placed against the shoulder 2|0 of the base member, and between that and the trigger finger |83, so that it rests upon the beveled cut-out portion 2|| of the height-adjusting member |56. The height-adjusting member |56 is thereupon adjusted by means of the threaded bolt |58 until the top of the bar 208 is just flush with the upper surface 2|2 of the ejector base member |55. The trigger-adjusting plate |86 is thereupon adjusted by means of the threaded bolt |88 until the tip or finger |88 of the trigger |51, firmly engages the bar stock 209, this engagement resulting from the engagement of the rear surface 2 I8 0f the slot |85, in the trigger-anhusting plate |86, with the depending leg |84 of the trigger member |51. Y

The threaded bolt |81 of the spring plate assembly |90a is now adjusted until its far end |88 of bolt |91 isspaced a slight distance, for example 11; to l/ inch, from the upstanding lug |80 of r initial portion of the traverse, the tension spring 96 maintains the trigger |51 in the elevated position shown in Fig. '7, with the finger |83 thereof rmly engaging bar 209. lThis status continues until the depending arm |84 of the trigger member |51 engages the front wall 2|8 of the slot |85 in the trigger-adjusting plate |86, and in the manner shown in Fig. 8a. Thereupon continued displacement of the ejector assembly towards the left, causes the trigger member I 51 to be rotated counter-clockwise about its pivotal support |65, against the restoring action of spring |96, whereby thetrigger or finger portion |83 thereof,.is depressed from the position |83 into the position |83a below the level of the beveled surface 2|| of the height-adjusting plate |56, whereupon the bar 208 is released to roll down the beveled surface 2||, into the V I9 formed between the successive pairs of feed rolls I1 into the position illustrated by the bar 20, Fig. 7.

Meantime, and slightly prior to the engagement of the trigger arm |84 withthe slot ,face 2|8 of member |86, the shoulder portion-ZID and upper surface 2|2 of the ejector base member |55, passes under the center line of thenext bar 2|9 in the magazine, asilIuStratedl in Fig. 8a, thus to hold the remaining bars in the magazine in the position shown whilebar 209 is being released. Bar 2 I9 and those above it inthe maga-y 14 to theend of the forward stroke inthe manner above discussed and as indicated at |93a. As now, the mechanism starts back, on the return stroke the depending army |84 of the trigger will be continuously engaging the front slot face 2|8 by virtue of the tension action of the spring |96. Meantime, however, the trigger member |51 will be rotated clockwise until the trigger lug hits the end |98 of stop bolt |91, the further sequence of operations being as above described.

Referring to Fig. '7, a supply of the bar stock to be centerless ground is, as above explained, piled into the real' ends of the lower portion ||b of the skid plate |I, in the manner illustrated at 2. If no mechanism were provided for adjusting the piled stock bars V2, they would tend to jam at the entrance to the magazine slot |3, thereby tending to prevent uniform feeding of the bars in a single layer into this slot in the manner shown. In order to provide a mechav nism for suitably adjusting the pileof stock bars zine are thus maintained in the position shown,

while the ejector mechanism completes its traverse to the left to dischargebar 209. As the ejector mechanism starts back on the return stroke, the restoring force of the stretched spring |86 will rotate the trigger |51 clockwise to the extent permitted by continued engagement of portion |84 thereof with the front wall 2|8 of slot |85, until the trigger lug |90 hits the end |98 of stop bolt |91. This position is maintained until next bar 2|9 falls into the ejector against finger tip |83 at about the end of the return stroke. The weight of this bar and ones above it tend to rotate trigger counter-clockwise until trigger part |84 contacts the rear slot face 2| 3, during which spring |96 is tensioned and the end |98 of stop bolt |91 is separated from trigger part |90. Further displacement of the ejector mechanism to the right will disengage trigger member |84 from the front slot face 2|8, thus permitting the trigger lug to engage stop |98. Meantime, upon return of the ejector mechanism substantially to the position shown iny Figs. 7 and 10 of .the drawings, the nextbar 2|9 will fall into the position previously occupied by bar 209, while the other bars in the magazine move down the diameter of one bar At theend of the return stroke, the trigger base |84 will engage the rear slot face 2 |3 and thus rotate the trigger slightly clockwise, to space the trigger lug |90 slightly away from stop |98.y

As the ejector mechanism again starts forward, i. e., to the left in the drawing, on the next ejector stroke causing the depending arm |84 of the trigger to disengage the rear slot face 2| 3, the tension spring |96 will maintain the trigger in the elevated position shown, with the nger tip |19 thereof firmly engaging the bar 209, this status being maintained until the depending arm |84 of the trigger again engages the front slotv face 2|8,whereupon continuedv movement of the ejector mechanism toward the left rotates the 'trigger mechanism counter-clockwise., thereby to 2 to prevent this jamming, there is included in each Aeccentric assembly a so-called shuffle bar `shuiiie bar being suitably mounted on the eccentric assembly in the manner explained hereinafter, and being provided with a lower extension 226 integral therewith, containing a longitudinal slot 221, which is pin-connected as at 228, to the adjacent skid plate It will be noted that the shutlle bar attachment 223 is provided witha suitably shaped, angular contact surface 229, adapted to engage the bar stock 2 as shaft |82 is rotated in the manner aforesaid. Since the shuffle bar is pin-connected at itsbase 228 for longitudinal displacement only, this connection inconjunction with the eccentric movement imparted thereto by the eccentric |8| keyed to shaft |82, causes the angular face 229 of the shuflie bar attachment 223 to partake of a substantially elliptical movement as indicated at 230, in -a counter-clockwise direction as indicated by thc arrows thereon, when the shaft is rotated in the direction of the arrows thereon.

Accordingly, as shaft |82 rotates, the contact face 229 of the shuffle bar attachment will engage the bar stock 2 at the left, and will displace bar 23| thereof to the right sufficiently to permit bar 232 above it, which abuts the shoulder 208 of the skid plate portion lb, to drop and roll into the slot |3 against the other bars already contained therein. l A

Referring now to Figs. 7, 10 and 13, the assembly on shaft |82 of the eccentric |8|, the connecting links |18 to the ejector mechanism, the sleeve member and the shutlle bar 225, is as follows: The eccentric I8] isimounted upon and keyed directly to shaft 82 by means of a keyway spline 229, Fig. 13, and clamping bolt 230,Y

Fig. 7. Surrounding the eccentric |8| is a brass bearing ring 234 which is slidably mounted with respect to the eccentric |8|, and surrounding the brass bearing ring 234, and slidably mounted with respect thereto, is shuiiie bar 225. The assemblt7 as thus described, is held in place by the ring ends |18a of the connecting links |18, which ring ends abut the assembly |8 I ,234 and 225., on opposite sides thereof, and are held in position by means of pins, as at 235, which-extend through bores in the ring members |18a, and the brass bearing ring 234, the ping having secured to the outer ends thereof, Tru-arc retaining rings, or other equivalent locking device. By virtue of this arrangement the ring ends |18a of the conl necting links, which overlap both the eccentric |3| and the shuiile bar ring 225, function to maintain the shuiile bar in alignment with the eccentric during rotative movement of the latter.

In the description thus' far, the` overall construction of the feeder mechanism has been geny erally described, in addition to which the essential mechanical components thereof have been described in detail. Attention will, therefore,A

now be directed to the electrical drive, circuits. switches, cams and clutches, whereby operation of the feeder is rendered fully automatic to feed the bars successively from the magazines into the grinders. These features are best illustrated in operative relation to each other in Fig. 3, in conjunction with which reference is also made to Figs. l and 3 to 6 inc., 19 and 20, the latter for further details.

Referring to these figures, as a bar of stock such as is fed by the feed rolls I1 into the grinder, it passes under a switch wheel 230 which rides on top of the bar being fed, in the manner shown, being rotated by the rotating bar. This switch wheel controls a switch and solenoid assembly, which actuates the ejector mechanism for delivering the next bar onto the feed rolls, as soon as bar 20, as shown therein, has passed beyond the switch wheel 230.

To this end the switch wheel 230 is journaled to switch bar 23|, which latter -in turn is pivotally secured at its far end 232 to a supporting member 233, carried by the end plate 1| at the grinder end of the feed roll table. The bar 23| is thus pivotally secured to support 233 for -rotation about a horizontal axis, so that the wheel 230 may drop down when a bar has passed beyond it into the grinder. Pivotally connected at approximately the mid-point of the bar 23|, as

at 234, is a link member 235, the lower end of'` which is pin-connected, as at 236, to a substantially horizontally extending link member 231,

' the far end of which is in turn pivotally secured,

as at 238, to the support member 233, for permitting the link member 231 to rotate about a horizontal axis. Mounted beneath the projecting end of the link member 231 is amicroswitch 233, on which is pivotally mounted, as at 240, a switch arm 24| on the projecting end of which a roller 242 is so mounted as to be engageable by the link member 231 when the latter is depressed in the manner explained below.

The switch arm 24| engages a vertically displaceable switch contact 242, the latter being normally maintained out of contact with a stationary switch contact 243, by means of a. compression spring 244, surrounding the switch arm 242. Pinconnected to an intermediate point of link member 231, is a member 245, the upper end of which is 'pin-connected, as at 243, to the plunger 241 of a solenoid 243, which is energizable in the manner explained below, over a circuit which includes conductors 243.

In the operation of the device, so long as the switch wheel 230 is riding on a piece of bar stock, such as 20, the switch bar 23| and the link members 235 and 231, will be maintained in the elevated position shown more particularly in Fig 20, so that the contacts 242, 24:` of the microswitch 233 will be open. When, however, the bar 23 passes beyond the contact wheel 230, the wheel will drop down between feed rollers 28, 23 in the manner illustrated by the dotted lines 233a, in Fig. 20, thus to depress the link member 231 to the dotted position shown at 231a, causing this member to depress the roller 242 to the position 13 shown at 242a, thereby actuating the micii switch 233 to cause the contact 242 to engage contact 243. This completes a circuit overconnections 256 to actuate a solenoid 25|, Fig. 3, mounted at the far end of the feeder from the switch wheel 230, which solenoid 25| controls the rotation of the ejector mechanism cam shaft |82, Figs. '7 and 19, as explained below.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 20. the energizing circuit for solenoid 25| includes in addition to contacts 242, 243 of the microswitch 233, and connection 250 therefrom, a power supply line4 252. to one/side ofwhich one of the connections- 253 extends. while the other connection 253 extends over a conductor to solenoid 25|, a return path from which extends over conductor. 253 yto the opposite side of the power line.

Referring to Figs. ,3. 5 and 6, the plunger 254 of the solenoid 25|. is pin-connected at 255, to a trip link 256 of a clutch member 251 of the socalled single revolution type, such as the Hilliard No. 4 clutch. To this end the trip link 256 is pin-connected to a llxed support 258, at an intermediate point thereof, as at 253. Accordingly, when tlfe solenoid 25| is energized in the manner aforesaid, the trip link 256 is rotated clockwise, thereby to disengage the trip link 253 from the stop 260 of the clutch 251, thereby releasing the same to make a single revolution, as explained below'.

Referring to Figs. 3, 5 and 6 for an explanation of the clutch operation, a sheave 23| is keyed to a sleeve 262, which is normally freely rotatable about shaft |82. Sheave 25| is continuously driven from an electric motor `and gear assembly 262, having keyed thereto a sheave 263 which drives sheave 26| by means of a belt 264 passing about the 'two sheaves. The sleeve 262 is secured to an outer clutch member 264, drivingly engageable by an inner clutch member 265, upon retraction of a tensionv spring 266. Tension spring 266 is normally tensioned to disengage the inner clutch member 265 from the outer clutch member 264, by engagement of the trip link 256- with the stop 260. When, however, the trip link is disengaged from the stop in the manner aforesaid, spring 266 is retracted to cause the inner clutch member 265 to drivingly engage the outer clutch member 264 and thus rotate the shaft |82 in the direction of the arrow 261. The clutch stop 260 is formed on a; helically shaped cam member 265 on which the trip link 256 is released, as explained below. to cause the trip link to engage the helical surface 268 as explained, so that upon completion of a single revolution of the clutch, the trip link 256 will again engage the stop 260, thereby tensioning the spring 266 to release the clutch, thus preventing further rotation of shaft |82. Since the construction and operation of the Hilliard type clutch is well understood arid described in the literature, no more detailed explanation as to the construction and operation of this clutch is required.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, shaftV 82 extends the entire length of the feeder mechanism as shown, being jounaled, as at 263, to the skid plates l I. As explained above in connection with Figs. 7 to 12 inc., the rotation of shaft |32 actuates the ejector mechanism todeliver a succeeding bar of stock onto the feed rolls I1. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, shaft |32 has mounted thereon and key-ed thereto, a cam wheel 210, having formed on its outer peripheral surface, a single recess 21| in which normally rests a roller 212 of a microswitch 213. similar to microswitch 233 17 of Fig. 20. Mlcroswitch 213 is connected by means of conductors 214 over an energizing circuit 215 extending from the power supply line 252 to solenoid 248, the latter controlling the elevation of the contact roll 230, Fig. 20. As a result of this arrangement, as soon as shaft |82 starts to rotate in the manner above described, the cam roller 212, Fig. 4. is displaced from the cam recess 21|, thereby to actuate the microswitch 213, for energizing solenoid 249 over circuit 215. Energization of the solenoid 248 elevates the solenoid plunger 245, .and this in turn elevates the link members 231 and 235, thereby to elevate shaft 23| of the switch wheel 230 above the level of the entering bar stock 20, whereby the next bar being fed into the grinder by the feed rolls 28, 29, passes under the switch wheel 230. As soon, however, as shaft |82 has completed its single revolution as aforesaid, the cam 212, Fig. 4, of microswitch 213, will again enter the recess 21| of the cam wheel 210, thereby to open microswitch 213, thus de-energizing solenoid 248, Fig. 20, which in turn, by releasing the plunger 241,

permits the switch wheel 230 to fall by gravity onto the next succeeding bar being fed into the grinder, in the manner illustrated by the full line showing in Fig. 20.

It will be recalled from the foregoing description that the rotation of shaft |82 was initiated by the switch wheel 230 dropping down between the feed rolls 28, 29 as a bar length passed beyond the switch wheel into the grinder, due to the fact that when the switch wheel drops down in this fashion, it actuates microswitch 239, in turn to energize the clutch 261, through which shaft |82 is driven from the motor 262. It has also been explained immediately above how rotation of shaft |82 energizes the solenoid 248 again to elevate the switch wheel 230, immediately upon initiation of the shaft rotation, by disengagement of the cam 212 from thecam wheel recess 21|. This elevation of thev switch wheel by energization of solenoid 248, in turn causes the link member 231, Fig. 20, to 'disengage the roll-242 of microswitch 239, thereby .opening this microswitch and in turn opening lthe'energizing circuit for solenoidf25l, shortly after shaft 82 starts to rotate. l

In consequence of this prompt release of solenoid 25| the trip link 256 thereof-,is rotated counterclockwise, under the action of gravity until itv .bears lagainst the helical surface 26 of clutch cam 265, .whereby upon completionv of a single revolution of the clutch the trip link 256 engages the clutch stop 260, therebyA to release the clutch and prevent further vrotation of shaft |82.

Thus, to. .revi'ew the sequence of operations 18 thereof will engage the clutch stop 280 as soon as a single revolution of shaft |82 is completed. Upon completion of this single revolution the roller 212 of microswitch 213 will again enter recess 21| in the cam wheel 210, thereby to energize solenoid 248, de-energization of which permits the switch wheel 230 to fall by gravity onto the next bar of stock being fed into the grinder over rolls 28, 29.

The above completes the detailed description as to the construction and operation of the feeder mechanisms which feed the bar stock onto the centerless grinders. Attention will accordingly now be directed to a detailed description of the run-out and transfer mechanism for delivering the bar stock fed through the roughingl grinder into the finishing grinder.

Figs. 1 3 and 21-26 inc. show the lay-out and details of the delivery and transfer mechanisms in accordance with the invention, for receiving the bar stock delivered from the roughing grinder, and for automatically transferring same to the feeder mechanism of the finishing grinder. Before entering into a detailed description of these mechanisms, the operations involved will be briefly reviewed as follows: A bar of stock such as 20a, Fig. 3, is fed by the roughing grinder 3 onto and along a run-out trough 4, and is delivered thence by means of a series of eccentric fingers, and skid plates to chain and sprocket elevating mechanism 5, in the manner illustrated at 20 to 20j inc., onto the downwardly inclined transfer plates 2|, from whence the bars roll by gravity onto the skid plates 22 of the feeder mechanism 6, which feeds the bars into the finishing grinder 1.

To this end the entrance portion of the runout trough 4 comprises a series of angle bars 280, followed by a series of groovedV idler rolls 28| of `V section, Fig. 23, mounted in spaced alignment along and upon a delivery table 282, for receiving, supporting and guiding the bar stock, fed therealong from the grinder 3 in the manner illustrated by bar 20. The channel membersv .204 are mountedon the supporting table 282 by means ofinterposed web members or plates 283, channel members 284 and Ibeams 285, Fig. 21, welded or otherwise secured together with reference to Fig. 3: Assuming the switch v wheel 230 to be initially` riding upon a bar .of stock such as 20, being fed into.l theA grinder 3, as this -bar of stock passes'beyond the switch wheel-the latter will drop down' between the feedl rolls '28, 29, thus to'actuatemicroswitch 239, and thereby energize solenoid 25|. Energi'zation of solenoid y25| 'will in turn cause clutch 251 drivin'glyto engage shaft .|82 to start the same rotating from the ldrive applied from the motor 262. As-soon as this shaft starts to rotate, the roll 212 of microswitch 213 will be disengaged from recess 21| of cam wheel 210, thus to actu-` ate the microswitch, thereby to energize solenoid 248. in turn to elevate the switch wheel 230 above the level of the bar stock fed by feed rolls 28, 28. Elevation of the switch wheel 230 opens the contacts of microswitch 238, thereby to deenergize solenoid 25|, so that the trip link 251 in .the assembled relation shown. Referring to Fig. 21e, theidler rollsn28| are mounted on shafts 286, journaled to bearing supports as at 281, 208, mounted upon upstanding, supporting channel member 289, the latter being mounted` upon and bolted to the table 282 as at 290.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 21 and 21c, the transfer plates 2| are mounted upon upstanding channel supports 28| of a supporting framework shown generally at 292, to which supports are (also secured plate members 293, these various members being bolted together as at,-294.

The

opposite ends of the transfer members 2| are bolted, as at 295, Fig. 2, to the supporting framework 22a of feeder mechanism 6.

Journaled through the plate members 293 is a shaft 303 extending parallel to and approximately the length of the delivery table 282. This shaft is driven intermittently, the latter, as explained below, from an electrical motor 304,

through a reduction gear at 305, having a driven shaft to which is keyed a sheave 306, about which passes a belt 301 which also extends about a sheave 308 of' a clutch mechanism 30,9, of the single revolution type, such as the Hilliard No. 4 clutch, this clutch mechanismbeing identical in construction and operation with clutch 251 

